The excavators continued to move the earth around until they had the hole size specified by our plans for the garden (lower) level of the Gathering Place, plus space around it to access the hole. Surprised that concrete can be poured in winter, I found out that they will treat it with chemicals and
some heat.
When they dug down, they discovered that the water table is a little higher than anticipated, so our garden level ceiling will be 8 feet rather than 9 feet, so as to not dig too deep, risking wet basement problems. They also had planned to put tile (not decorative, but the kind that draws the water out, under the floor, to the edges for proper drainage) only around the sides but they are covering the floor with it as extra precaution.
Because it is commercial grade and not residential, the beams in the floor to hold the concrete will be placed every 12 inches rather than 18 inches for residential. Also, the walls will be 10 inches thick. Right now when we look down in the hole from our Forum Room (I've been calling it the Observation Deck) there is gravel spread on the floor and blankets. The warmth will draw any water up to the surface if there is any (we're hoping not) to let them know it's safe to pour the concrete.
The important things to remember at this stage, for us, is that we need to stay completely away from the area, and keep little ones away, too. Although the Children's House does have its electricity turned back on and we
could use it, we are opting for safety and trying to keep curiosity at bay by not walking by all of that lovely dirt, planks, and equipment.
And you don't mess around with Jim. Today I am pleased to announce that Jim Victor is going to be writing on this blog as well--he is our site supervisor and checks in with our crews each day. His updates will ensure that the information shared continues to be correct and up-to-date, and I (Rev. Amy) will still be here often and taking pictures. Here we grow! The big arm reaching over the building is a snorkel that drops the cement where it needs to be. The guys covered the tiles with the cement and now we are ready for back-filling around the outside and framing will begin next week.
The truck pulled up with forms on it and were lowered into the building site. The forms are made of plywood. They are spaced 10 inches apart with steel rods spacing them. The cement will be poured down into the forms and will attach to the rods, which will be inside the walls. After the formed cement walls have solidified the forms will be peeled off and we will have concrete walls. On the footers, they carved out indentations and the cement will pour down into those indentations, like putting Tab A into Slot B. 
Even in this snowfall, the crew was here checking on the concrete. It's covered and there's a truck full of forms (walls) waiting....
